Head-chair for railroad-switches



(No Model.)

W. A. COOPER.

HEAD CHAIR FOR RAILROAD SWITCHES.

No. 249,723. Patented Nov. 15,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. COOPER, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

HEAD-CHAIR FOR RAILROAD-SWITCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,723, dated November 15, 1881.

Application filed August 19, 1881.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Sh awnee and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Head-Ohairsfor Railroad-Switches, of which the following is a specification. I

The object of my invention is to produce a head-chair that will afford a solid foundation or resisting-surface for the rails at breaks or openings in the track where switches occur, and that will afford a firm seat for and securely hold the stationary rails in position, to so form the chair as to facilitate the throwing of the switch-rail, and to so simplify the construction of head-chairs that they can be applied to the track with facility, even by persons not expert in such matters.

To these ends my invention consists in a metallic head-chair composed of two wings joined by a transverse depression for receiving the switch-operating rod, and spanning the space between the head blocks or sleepers on which the chair is supported one of said wings being formed with a plane face, on which the switchra-il rests and slides, and the other wing' being provided with blocks or projections to constitute seats in which the ends of the stationary rails are secured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of railroad-track provided with myimprovedhead-chair. Fig.2is

a side view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chair.

The drawings indicate a main track, A A, and two sidings, B B and O O.

The head-chair D, which is formed in one piece, has two wings or plates, E and F. The chair bridges over the space between the two head blocks or sleepers G G, and the wings or plates resting upon the faces of the sleepers afford a broad and solid foundation for the chair. The center of the chair is sunk or depressed, so as to form a transverse groove or channel, H, in which the connecting-rod I, which is connected to the usual switch-lever at the side of the track, works.

The switch-rails a a rest and slide upon the plates E when operated by the rod 1, their (N0 model.)

movementbeing limitedby the stops a a on opposite sides of the plates. The platesF are formed with sockets or seats f for the ends of the stationary rails A B C. These seats are formed by blocks K and the head-strip or cross-piece L. In manufacturing my improved chair, which is preferably made of cast metal, these seats will be made of the proper size to receive the bases of the rails with which they are to be used. Spike-holes w are formed in the head to secure it in place.

The head-chair, having a broad and firm support on the sleepers or head-blocks, will not become loose and rock or roll, because it is formed in one piece and supported equally on each side. The pounding of the car-wheels will be delivered vertically upon the chair-head and sleepers, and no disturbing effect will be produced upon the road-bed. These advantages, as well as others, and also the simplicity and facility with which my improved chair may be applied in place, will be obvious to those skilled in such matters.

I do not wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, a grooved head-chair provided with a plane bearing for the movements of the switchrails, and with lugs to form recesses which receive and hold the ends of the main rails and sidings, as such features of themselves have heretofore been provided in a head-chair.

What I claim is- A metallic head-chair for switches, consisting of two wings, E and F, joined by a transverse depression, H, for receiving the switchoperating rod and spanning the space between the head-blocks G, on which the chair is supported, one of said wings being formed .with a plane face, on which the switch-rail rests and slides, and the other wing being provided with projections K, to constitute seats, in which the ends of the stationary rails are secured, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. COOPER, Witnesses:

GEO. B. LAKE, 1). J. CHASE. 

